Jose Mourinho has said he was happy to return to his "natural habitat" on the touchline to watch his new Tottenham side win 3-2 at West Ham United on Saturday.
Mourinho was appointed Spurs head coach on Wednesday hours after the club sacked Mauricio Pochettino.
Spurs secured their first away win in the Premier League since January with goals from Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane.
Mourinho, who had been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in December, expressed his delight at returning to the bench.
"The most difficult moments in the 11 months were when I didn't have a preseason and was looking at other clubs and managers doing it," Mourinho told a news conference.
"Sometimes I was at football games and I was thinking what am I doing here, in the box or the studio. Today I was were I belong, my natural habitat."
Mourinho also praised Dele Alli's performance after he assisted the first goal and produced a great piece of skill in the buildup for the second.
- ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!
- VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
- When does the transfer window reopen?
- Premier League winter break: All you need to know
"[Alli's] too good to not be one of the best players in the world and not playing with the national team," he added.
"I'm happy with him, I spent a few minutes with him in training and outside the pitch. And we were saying that the best Dele Alli has to be back.
"I think Dele was like the team, brilliant for 60-65 minutes and then he paid also the price of the tiredness so he went a little bit down. I think it was the old Dele Alli, the Dele Alli of a couple of years ago who impressed not just for England but all. He did everything I asked him to do."
Spurs ended a series of five Premier League matches without a win and Mourinho said he was pleased with his players' response to the managerial change.
"It was very very important -- 11 months without music in the away dressing room, without a smile or happiness," he said. "I am very happy for them and with them. If someone only saw the result they'd have thought it was very difficult for us. But it was probably closer to a 4-0 than 3-1.
"I think my players paid the price of a very difficult week. International break, change of manager, new guy, different training sessions."
Spurs host Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday where Mourinho will be presented to the home support for the first time.